On a sun-filled Friday morning hundreds of Sheriff’s Department members donned their sneakers and shorts ready to run the first leg of the 40th Annual Memorial Torch Relay Run Ceremony at the Hall of Justice. Also many family and friends joined in on the torch relay on bicycles to honor those law enforcement members who gave their lives to protect the citizens they are sworn to serve and protect.

Undersheriff Jacque LaBerge, who presided over the ceremony, kicked-off the memorial torch relay with the lighting of the torch and passing it on to members of the Special Enforcement Bureau who will carry the torch to its first destination.

The run will consists of 58 legs of varying distances and will begin its non-stop journey from the Hall of Justice in downtown Los Angeles and travel over 300 miles. The Memorial Torch will pass each of the mainland Sheriff’s stations over the course of three days. Nearly 2,000 runners will participate in the relay.

The 2017 Memorial Torch Relay Run will honor six of these fallen heroes. Three of these officers gave their lives in the line of duty since 2016: Sergeant Alfonso Lopez and Sergeant Steven C. Owen, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Officer Keith Wayne Boyer, Whittier Police Department. In addition, historical research has determined that three officers are from the distant past: Deputy Arthur J. Solomon and Constable Charles W. Winston, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Deputy Marshal Frederick F. Moore, Los Angeles County Marshal’s Office; died in the line of duty between 1917 and 1947. Their names will be added to the Memorial Wall.

For further information please contact LASAA Board Member Rocky Costa at (562) 347-2604, or Mike Ford at (805) 490-0505, or Sheriff’s Information Bureau at (213) 229-1700.